BIG AL'S JOVIAL JUKEBOX #1: "Cruise In It" by THE CRICKETS

Here is one in a long line of those great, unprentious Rock and Roll songs about [to lift an old Chuck Berry coinage] "motorvatin'" in one'a them horseless carriages!

Written by Jerry Allison back in 1978, it's a great celebration of, well, cruising.  I just love it... the wailin' saxaphone, the playful lyrics... and especially all the rhymes Allison finds for the title phrase "Cruise In It." [Note also the sly reference to "Peggy Sue," the classic rockabilly song Allison co-wrote with Buddy Holly himself back in 1957!]

I first encountered this great tune on the excellent late '80s CD "T-SHIRT" by THE CRICKETS' [yes, that's the actual members of Buddy's surviving back up band!]  Unfortunately, that fine album has still not been re-released and so it is VERY hard to come by today...online vendors routinely ask as much as 50 Bucks for it-- YIKES! 

Still... if you can ever find  a reasonably priced used copy, grab it up.  It was partly produced by life-long Cricket fan Paul McCartney and every song on it is a joyful classic.

So here, take a listen :

CRUISE IN IT

(Jerry Allison)

THE CRICKETS (ZYGOTE MUSIC, 1978)

I paid a hundred dollars down on a '50 model Studebaker

It ain't brand new, but it was owned by an undertaker

Never been driven over fifty-five

Got yer V8 engine, got yer overdrive

And I cruise in it, take off my shoes in it

Don't ever lose in it, I just cruise in it

It had the blackwall tires

I took some paint and put the white ones on

Took off the chrome and got it lookin' just the way I want it

Primered all the spots and then I customised the grill

Don't quite have it finished and I guess I never will

But I can cruise in it, I sing the blues in it

I make the news in it, well I cruise in it

Well, I cruise by the Hi-Dee-Ho and cruise through MacKenzie Park

Gonna cruise by my baby's house, and pick her up right after dark

Well, I took her to the dragstrip, to see if I could qualify

I couldn't 'cause the Fords and Chevys always pass me by

You don't have to go fast to be number one

I go real slow, but still we have a lot of fun

When I cruise in it, kick off my shoes in it

I payed some dues in it, yeah I can cruise in it

I paid a hundred dollars down on a '50 model Studebaker

It ain't brand new, but it was owned by an undertaker

Never been driven over fifty-five

Got yer V8 engine, got yer overdrive

Yeah, I can cruise in it, I get amused in it

I been accused in it, I get enthused in it

When Peggy Sue's in it, light up my fuse in it

Express your views in it, be Howard Hughes in it

Yeah, I can cruise in it, ain't gonna lose in it [fade]

Oh, and here's an image of the mentioned "'50 model Stubaker" for ya, too...

PEACE